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Great Falls man charged in Sunday shooting incident

Elias Junior Rodriguez is charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, obstructing a peace officer and aggravated kidnapping, which by itself carries a possible 100-year sentence to the Montana State Prison.

A 27-year-old man has been charged after allegedly shooting five times at a man's vehicle early Sunday on Great Falls' west side while kidnapping a woman to drive him to the scene and away from police.

Elias Junior Rodriguez, listed as a transient in Great Falls, is charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, obstructing a peace officer and aggravated kidnapping, which by itself carries a possible 100-year sentence to the Montana State Prison.

One of the men in the car struck twice by bullets told police he was outside his apartment sitting in a friend's vehicle when an SUV pulled up next to them, two men exited the SUV and then one shot five rounds at their vehicle.

The man said he fled the area, headed toward the police station and dialed 9-1-1.

According to reports, Great Falls police were dispatched at 3:23 a.m. Sunday to the area near 6th Street and 4th Avenue Northwest, where the alleged victim was driving toward the police station while being chased by the reported shooter. When police got to the area, the suspect vehicle reportedly tried to flee but quickly spun out on the icy roads, according to court documents. A man, later identified as Rodriguez, fled the vehicle on foot but was quickly apprehended, police reported. Officers said they recovered a revolver thrown on a nearby roof during the chase.

The driver of the SUV said Rodriguez had come to a home and forced her to drive him to the victim's apartment, and threatened her if she didn't comply. She told police Rodriguez had gotten out of the car at the victim's house and fired five times at the vehicle, then ordered her to follow them once they fled toward the police station. She said she feared for her life if she didn't follow his orders.

After he was arrested, Rodriguez refused to answer any questions from police.